A hint of Spring in the air?
It's good to see the crocus poking through in the garden and a lot of birds darting about.
From January to April a lot happens in nature in a short time. We'd like to think that our process of selecting scripts for 24:7 is natural rather than mechanical. Our readers are now finalising the Second Stage, after which our shortlist will be drawn up. Then, in Stage 3, we will invite our final panel of readers to give an opinion on the finalists. We'll be ready to invite writers to participate in the Summer Festival during week commencing 19 April.
We believe our process supports the goal of 24:7 – to present the most vibrant, innovative and diverse new work. And, as you know, the script bears no writer's name; it has to break through and blossom for itself
So what are we aiming for? 20>10 in 2010!
Out of the more than 110 scripts submitted, we're narrowing down to a shortlist of 20. The 10 that are dynamic and ready to be premièred will go on to full production. Further, five writers will be offered the chance of some development leading to a script in hand rehearsed reading during Festival Week. Five more will be offered mentoring of their script.
20>10 in 2010!
Through this we hope that twenty writers will make some progress.
And everyone else whose script we decline will receive written feedback to help them with the next draft.
Not everyone can be a winner. But we hope that everyone who submitted their script will benefit from the experience.
New theatre productions
Maine Road – new version going on tour
Maine Road is a story about football, family, bricks and mortar. Leo is an avid City fan who finds his team packing up and leaving at just about the same time that his whole word is falling apart.
Fri 12, Thu 18, Fri 19 & Sat 20 March 2010 - The Lowry, Salford Quays
Sat 10 April, 7.30pm - Action Transport Theatre
Sat 24 April, 7.30pm - Saltburn Community Theatre
Fri 30 April 2010, 8pm - Halifax Square Chapel
Find out more about the show and all Monkeywood projects by clicking here.
|
|
 |
|
Double Bill: The Roots of Love & As We Forgive Them
THE ROOTS OF LOVE
by Cathy Crabb
Directed by Neil Bell
Inspired by the all time classic What Becomes of the Broken Hearted by Jimmy Ruffin.
This is a short and intense play about a relationship between a man whose son died as a boy and his son's childhood best friend. The audience witness the last twenty minutes of a twenty year friendship between two unique and charismatic men. A relationship built on remorse, guilt, love and vivid imaginations.
[Cathy's play Moving Pictures, part of 24:7 2005, demonstrated her writing potential, winning the Manchester Evening News Best Fringe Production Award. Just five years later her Beautiful House – premièred at Studio Salford and reprised at Re:Play – will have a full production at Manchester's Library Theatre in April and May, performed by John Henshaw, Janice Connolly, Sally Carman and James Foster and directed by Noreen Kershaw. She has also been commissioned for another project by the Library Theatre.]
AS WE FORGIVE THEM
by Richard Vergette
Directed by Andrew Pearson
America, November 2008: the new President is elected amidst an 'audacity of hope'. For newly elected Democrat Congressman, John Daniels, this should be a time of celebration. Instead he must decide the fate of his daughter’s murderer: should he exact revenge or grant redemption... or both?
[Following An Englishman's Home in 24:7 2007, Richard brought As We Forgive Them to 24:7 last summer. The play went on to the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, the Young Vic in London and won the MEN Award for Best Fringe Production. The version Richard is bringing this month has been developed and improved. You be the judge. Come and try it!]
Wed 17 - Sat 20 March @ 7:30pm
Studio Salford, The King's Arms, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Reserve tickets £7 / £5 on the Studio Salford website.
|
|
|
|
After two sell-out seasons of ‘JB SHORTS’, a Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards Nomination, stunning reviews and twice receiving the M.E.N ‘Critic’s Choice’ Accolade,
REAL LIFE THEATRE CO. returns with…
JB SHORTS 3
An evening of Six More Fifteen Minute Plays by Top TV Writers ?
Tues 16th – Sat 27th March (NOT Sunday 21st)
7.00 p.m. (Doors 6.40pm)?
At JOSHUA BROOKS, 106 Princess Street, MANCHESTER M1 6NG?(The junction of Charles St and Princess St, at the side of the BBC)
All Tickets : £5 (Pay on the Door)
Vicky Binns (Molly Dobbs in Coronation Street) is joined by ex-T4 Presenter, Anthony Crank, William Travis (formerly ‘Dick Lampard’ in ‘Where The Heart Is’), Ideal’s Peter Slater and Chris Hannon from the new BBC3 hit sitcom ‘Lunch Monkeys’. These are just a few names in another top-quality JB Shorts cast.
Between them, the writers, actors and directors of ‘JB Shorts 3’ have worked in numerous TV, Radio and Stage productions, winning much acclaim and many awards. Uniting – and re-uniting these talents, ‘Real Life Theatre Co’. promises another unique and highly entertaining evening of live theatre.
|
|
|
|
The Merchant of Venice
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Sue McCormick
There can be few more appropriate settings in the UK for this, the most edgy and contentious of the Bard’s plays, than Lancaster Castle.
The demi-paradise indoor promenade production of this great tragi-comedy is centred on the Shire Hall’s Georgian law courts and medieval tower.
Thu 25 February - Sat 20 March @ 7:30pm
Shire Hall, Lancaster Castle
Call 01524 64998 for tickets
|
|
|
|
The Write Now Festival, Liverpool
Write Now are delighted to announce tickets are now available for the eight plays, two workshop readings and panel discussion event which will come together to make the Write Now One Act Play Festival running from Friday 26 March to Saturday 3 April 2010. Full details on the website: writenowfestival.co.uk
Clown Lab Summer Workshops
Master teachers Mick Barnfather (Complicite), Gerry Flanagan (Shifting Sands) and Peta Lily (David Glass Ensemble) are leading workshops in Salford. If you want to know more email Mark Winstanley on markewinstanley@hotmail.co.uk and he'll send you a Word doc!
As a reminder, the key dates for 24:7 2010 are:
invitations to participate: on or around Monday 19 April;
Big Gathering: Monday 10 May;
media launch: on or around Tuesday 8 June;
Festival Week: Monday 26 July - Sunday 1 August. We'll keep you up to date with developments here on the website:
Listen up!
British Theatre Guide's David Chadderton now has a radio show on Canalside Community Radio, 102.8FM and ccr-fm.co.uk on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00.
All FM's Andrew Edwards presents Artbeat every Sunday at midday on 96.9 FM, with interviews and reports reflecting the wide ranging arts scene in Manchester. Click here for the website!
And our good friend Alex Parker Brown at Wythenshawe FM (97.2FM) is always giving us a mention on his Out To Lunch show, Monday - Wednesday 12 - 2pm. Click here for the website!
Feedback
We'd love to hear what you think about 24:7. Feel free to click here and send an email back!
We look forward to seeing you during Festival week 2010
The 24:7 team
Lead supporters and partners 2009:
In partnership with The Co-operative.
The festival is sponsored by Manchester City Council as part of the Council’s annual ‘events to listen out for…’ festivals and events programme.
Never miss a Manchester moment. Sign up to Eventext, the Council’s fabulous free SMS ‘what’s on’ events guide at www.eventext.com
|
